Columbus, MN — The Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 25) program at Running Aces featured freshman pacers and trotters, with two divisions on each gait.

Twilight Sunset kept his undefeated record intact with a 1:56.4 win in Tuesday’s feature at Running Aces. Dee Leftwich photo.

The $13,800 “A” event for pacers was the featured event of the day, with a field of seven youngsters lining up to take on favorite Twilight Sunset, who was sent off at 2-5 from post two.

Driver Rick Magee left alertly with the favorite and he easily took the front, posting a :28.2 opener while Marc In The Box (Duane Roland) settled away second and Brooklyn Windup (Brady Jenson) dropped in third. They remained that way as they passed the half in :58.3, and then May Day Maggie (Mooney Svendsen) launched a first-over bid down the backside.

As they rounded the far turn, it was clear that the battle would be for second, as Twilight Sunset ($2.80) opened up on his rivals at every call, pacing home strongly and checking in 4-1/4 lengths on top in 1:56.4 to remain undefeated in three career races. May Day Maggie was home second while Alilthundadownunda (Nick Roland) rallied late for third.

Twilight Sunset is a colt by Twilight Bonfire owned by Janna Lee Rucker and trained by Brady Jenson.

The $9,200 “B” division went to Shesashowstopper (Jacob Cutting, $4.40), a filly by It’s That Time who scored her first lifetime win in 1:59.4 over Twisted Bliss (Brandon Jenson) and Dontcallmefrieda (Nick Roland). The winning filly is owned by Van Otterloo Stables and trained by Gordon Graham.

The $11,500 colt and gelding trot went to Rush To The Bank (Nick Roland, $2.60), who earned his fourth career win in nine starts. The Banker Volo gelding drew away from the field in the lane to score by four lengths in a career best 2:01.2 for trainer Daniel Roland and owners Jeralene Roland and Vikki Rush.

The $11,500 filly trot went to The Royal Queen (Rick Magee, $3.40), who turned back heavy pressure from runner-up It’s So Fluffy (Dean Magee) and then drew clear late to win by three lengths in 2:03.2 for her fifth triumph in 10 career starts. The daughter of Tom Ridge is owned and trained by Justin Anfinson.

The $9,500 Open Handicap Trot went to Mandeville (Nick Roland, $4.40) in 1:54.1 for two wins in a row. Justlikehim (Jacob Cutting) was second and Bordogna (Rick Magee) picked up third. The winner is an 8-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son owned and trained by Gerald Longo.

The $9,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace was dominated by a pair of New Zealand imports: Motu Moonbeam N (Dean Magee, $13.00) got up by a neck right on the line to upset favorite My Kiwi Lady N (Chris Scicluna) in 1:53.1 for a new career mark. The winner is owned by Jose Cervantes and trained by Edward Hernandez.

Top drivers Nick Roland and Rick Magee dominated the program on Tuesday: Roland completed a grand slam while Magee posted a hat trick. Trainer Edward Hernandez picked up a double for the second consecutive program in a row, and Gerald Longo also completed a training double on the Tuesday card.

Live racing returns to Running Aces on Saturday (Aug. 29), with first post at 1 p.m. Central and a $2,553.02 carryover in the 20-cent Jackpot Pick-5.